TODD G. HIGDON: Return to sender

Well, one of my New Year’s resolutions that I noted in a recent column is under way.

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Neosho Daily News - Neosho, MO

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Posted Jan. 2, 2013 at 9:05 PM
Updated Jan 2, 2013 at 9:06 PM

Posted Jan. 2, 2013 at 9:05 PM
Updated Jan 2, 2013 at 9:06 PM

Well, one of my New Year’s resolutions that I noted in a recent column is under way. Instead of Tina and I watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve, we started to tackle some boxes in our office at the house. It is amazing how much stuff one accumulates over the years. Now, it is not that we are pack-rats, but this was mostly old magazines or newspapers or even the dreaded junk mail which was put into boxes.

One by one, we sorted out the good stuff from the bad stuff and within a matter of just a few minutes, one trash bag was filled.

While we were doing the organizing thing, Tina was working on redoing a desk that we had gotten a while back. That way, we can stay on top of the organizing factor.

Getting back to the junk mail issue, I have an interesting story to share that a former co-worker told me about 12 years ago.

Every day when we get mail at the Higdon household, I would say that more than 55 percent is junk mail. So what to do with the mail is another question. Your options are to chuck it into the trash, burn it or this very interesting idea that my former co-worker – to protect the innocent, I will call him “Mark” — once said.

One day, we were talking about this subject and Mark told his fellow co-workers that when he got junk mail, he would rip it up, except for the return address envelope and put the million pieces back in the envelope to send back to the sender. Ironically, most of the return envelopes had to be priced by the post office and the recipient’s company had to pay for the postage.

And if that were not enough to make Mark laugh, he would add some stuff to the envelope to increase the postage. Items such as other household trash were added.

I realize that it may sound funny, but I have not done return address pranks. And I am not advising anyone to do this, but it did give me a good laugh.

Todd G. Higdon is a staff writer and writes a weekly column for the Neosho Daily News. He can be reached at tghigdon@neoshodailynews.com